Jersey City mayor discusses governor's 'toolkit' reforms on Ledger Live

Jersey mayors support Gov. Christie's 'tool kit'Ledger Live for Thursday November 18th, 2010 - Ledger Live with Brian Donohue. On today's show: Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno called on leaders at the League of Municipalities today to get behind Gov. Chris Christie in his fight to pass his 'tool kit' reforms. Mayors found themselves in agreement with the reforms.

As the New Jersey League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City came to a close yesterday, mayors from across the state, including Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, paused to tell Ledger Live what they think of Gov. Chris Christie’s “toolkit” reforms.

“The most important things in there are the cap on arbitration awards — very important,” Healy said. “That’s going to be helpful. Also review and reform the labyrinthine Civil Service regulations.”

While Healy endorses the arbitration cap and Civil Service reforms, he doesn't support the entire tool kit.

Healy was among a handful of mayors interviewed by Star Ledger reporter Brian Donohue following a luncheon where Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno spoke on Christie’s reforms.

“New Jerseyans are sick of a government that is bloated, idle, and without accountability; they are tired of being given the sugar-coated version of problems; and tired of being told that a little more spending, a little more borrowing or a little more taxing will get us through another year and meet all our needs – painlessly,” she said.

The “toolkit” consist of 33 bills that Christie says will help municipalities stay within the hard 2 percent cap that goes into affect in January. Among the measures are the arbitration and civil service reform Healy spoke in support of. There are also pension reforms, capping salaries, cutting red tape and addressing unfunded mandates.

“Run the numbers you know if your revenue doesn’t go up, you’re not going to make the 2 percent cap. You know you’re going to have layoffs,” Guadagno said. “As you sit here today I know you know you’re going to have layoffs.”